General To Air Force Academy Grads: “You’re Idiots”

Last week, 3 Air Force cadets finished their summer work and officially joined the graduating class of 2015.

Brig. Gen. Robert Giffen (Class of 1965) was their commencement speaker and had an interesting message to the young graduates, Taylor Amundsen, Cherie DenHollander and Jacob Maynard: “You’re idiots.”

“Thirteen months after graduations, I was flying missions over Vietnam and I knew everything. I was a second lieutenant and I was an idiot.” he said.

His point wasn’t to insult the graduates but rather to encourage them to be open to learning new things. “Don’t put blinders on” Giffen said.

Thinking your smart can get you killed, he reminded the grads.

An unorthodox yet profound point!

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From Military.com

A graduation speaker at the Air Force Academy had an odd message for three cadets who joined the ranks of the class of 2015 after wrapping up summer work last week.
“You’re idiots,” retired Brig. Gen. Robert Giffen said during a ceremony at the academy’s visitor’s center.

Giffen said wasn’t setting out to insult cadets Taylor Amundsen, Cherie DenHollander and Jacob Maynard. Instead he wanted to help them navigate the Air Force they entered as second lieutenants.

Giffen graduated from the academy’s class of 1965 and went on to serve as a pilot on missions to rescue downed fliers.

“Thirteen months after graduations, I was flying missions over Vietnam and I knew everything,” he said drawing laughter from the well-wishers who gathered to laud the latest graduates.
“I was a second lieutenant and I was an idiot,” he said.